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An illustration of a African Violet flower with purple petals and a green leaf.

African Violet

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Saintpaulia

CLIMATE (LOCATION): East Africa | Tropical

DESCRIPTION: These plants have flowers in a wide range of colors. They are small, which makes them perfect if you don't have a lot of space.

Moderate difficulty & pet safe

African Violet Plant Care

Lighting

Light Requirement: High Light (Bright Indirect Light)

African violets like bright, indirect light. Their leaves can get hurt by direct sunlight. They do best in windows that face east or north, where they can get bright, filtered light without being directly hit by the sun's rays. LED grow lights can work to give plants enough light if they are on for 6–8 hours a day.

Discover Our Grow Lights

BEST SELLER
White Soltech Aspect Gen 2 Hanging over Fiddle Leaf Fig Plant with a Teal background.
White Soltech Aspect Gen 2 Hanging over Fiddle Leaf Fig Plant with a Teal background.
Aspect™ Gen 2 LED Growlight
$200.00

Color:

White Black
A white Soltech Vita displayed against a yellow background with a wicker object and a green leaf in the backdrop.
A white Soltech Vita displayed against a yellow background with a wicker object and a green leaf in the backdrop.
Vita™ Grow Light
$85.00

Color:

White / Wide (60°) Black / Wide (60°)
A white Soltech Highland on the Highland Track Light System mounted on a rail, with a backdrop of an orange wall and green foliage.
A white Soltech Highland on the Highland Track Light System mounted on a rail, with a backdrop of an orange wall and green foliage.
Highland™ LED Track Light System
$230.00 - $740.00

Color:

White / 1 light / Narrow (36 Degrees) Black / 1 light / Narrow (36 Degrees)
A Black Soltech Grove positioned on a table with a plant in the background, illustrating the product's use for indoor plants.
A Black Soltech Grove positioned on a table with a plant in the background, illustrating the product's use for indoor plants.
Grove™ LED Grow Light
$130.00

Color:

Black White

Watering

Quick Tip: Water until water comes out of drainage holes. Allow top 2 inches of soil to completely dry between waterings.

African violets are a type of houseplant that require proper watering techniques to thrive. When watering your indoor African violet, it is important to avoid getting water on the leaves as this can cause damage or even lead to rotting. Instead, water the soil directly and allow the plant to absorb the moisture from the bottom. Use room temperature water to prevent shock to the plant's roots. African violets require consistently moist but not waterlogged soil, so avoid letting the soil dry out completely between waterings. It is best to water when the top inch of soil feels slightly dry to the touch. Additionally, using a pot with drainage holes can help prevent overwatering and promote healthy root growth. Finally, be sure to use a well-draining potting mix that allows for proper air circulation and water retention. Also, you shouldn't water African Violets with tap water because the chemicals in tap water can hurt the plant. Instead, use rainwater or water that has been boiled.

Temperature

Preferred Temperature: 60º - 75º

The ideal temperature range for African violets is between 65 and 75°F (18 and 24°C). Because they are sensitive to sudden temperature fluctuations, keep them away from drafty windows, air conditioners, and heaters. While a small amount of temperature variation is okay, it's important to keep the plant away from any abrupt swings that can stress it or harm it. The growth of the plant may slow down if the temperature falls below 60°F (15°C), and it may cause the leaves to wilt and become brown at the edges if the temperature rises beyond 80°F (27°C). To ensure the healthy development of African violets, a stable temperature range must be maintained.

Humidity

Preferred Humidity: 60 - 80%; High Humidity

If you want your African violet plant to stay healthy and grow well, you need to make sure that the humidity levels in its environment are just right. One way to get the right amount of humidity is to use a humidity tray. Fill a shallow tray with water and set the pot with the African violet on top, making sure the water doesn't touch the bottom of the pot. The water will evaporate, making the air around the plant more humid.

A second tip is to mist the plant with water often, especially when the weather is hot and dry. This makes the air around the plant more humid, which keeps the leaves from drying out and becoming brittle. When misting, it's important to use water at room temperature because cold water can shock the plant and hurt it.

If you want a solution that will last longer, you might want to buy a humidifier. This device can help control the humidity in a room, which is especially helpful when it's cold and dry outside. Make sure to put the humidifier away from the African violet because too much direct moisture can hurt the plant.

Additional Plant Care

Propagation
African violets can be propagated using several methods, including leaf cuttings, division, and suckers. Leaf cuttings are the most common method and involve taking a healthy leaf from the mother plant and placing it in a pot with moist potting soil. A plastic bag is then placed over the pot to create a humid environment, and the cutting is kept in indirect sunlight until roots form. Division involves separating the plant into smaller clumps and repotting them in fresh soil. Suckers are small shoots that emerge from the base of the plant and can be removed and potted on their own. Regardless of the method, African violets prefer to be kept moist and in indirect sunlight until they have established roots and can be moved to a permanent home.
Toxicity
African violets are non-toxic to both humans and animals. While they are generally safe to have around children and pets, it's still important to keep them out of reach as ingestion of any non-food item can still cause stomach upset or other digestive issues.
Repotting
African violets need soil that drains well, so it's important to pick a pot with holes in it. To move an African violet to a new pot, first loosen the soil and roots with your fingers. Then, gently pull the plant out of its old pot. If the roots are close together, you can use clean, sharp scissors to cut some of them away. Put a small amount of fresh potting soil that drains well in the bottom of the new pot. Place the plant in the middle of the pot. Fill in the space around the roots with more potting soil and press it down gently. After moving the plant to a new pot, give it a lot of water and put it in a bright, indirect light. African violets should be repotted every 6 to 12 months or when their roots get too big for their pot.
Pruning
African violets don't need much pruning, but sometimes their stems can get too long or their leaves can die. If you pinch off the growing tips of young plants, they will branch out and become more compact. You can also cut the flower stems when the flowers are done blooming. If the leaves turn a different color or get hurt, cut them off at the base of the stem with a clean, sharp pair of scissors. When you take off the leaves, make sure to cut them off where they meet the base of the plant. If you leave ugly stubs, they could attract pests or diseases.
Fertilizer
African violets are sensitive to fertilizers, so you need to use one that is made just for them. To get your plants to bloom, choose a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer with a higher concentration of phosphorus. The ratio of 10-10-10 or 14-12-14 is often used to fertilize African violets. Apply the fertilizer every two to four weeks during the growing season. Don't let the fertilizer get on the plant's leaves or crown, as this can hurt the plant. Instead, water the soil well with the fertilizer solution that has been diluted. It's also important to flush the soil with plain water every so often to keep the salt from the fertilizer from building up.
Soil
African violets need a specific kind of soil that drains well and has holes in it so that the roots can grow well and don't get soggy. African violets should be grown in a mixture of equal parts peat moss, perlite, and vermiculite. Peat moss adds organic matter and helps keep the soil moist. Perlite and vermiculite help the soil breathe and drain better. To make sure the plant gets all the nutrients it needs, the pH of the soil should be between 5.5 and 6.5.

Hanging Heights

African Violet Lighting Requirements: High Light (Bright Indirect Light)

Chart showing recommended hanging heights for Soltech Aspect and popular plants for each range.

Aspect Hanging Heights - African Violet

-

Soltech's Recommendation -

24" to 36"

-

VIEW ASPECT GROW GUIDE

Vita Hanging Heights - African Violet

-

Soltech's Recommendation -

36º Narrow Beam Vita : 24" to 36"

60º Wide Beam Vita : 12" to 24"

-

VIEW VITA GROW GUIDE

Highland Hanging Heights - African Violet

-

Soltech's Recommendation -

36º Narrow Beam Highland : 30" to 42"

60º Wide Beam Highland : 18" to 30"

-

VIEW HIGHLAND GROW GUIDE

Grove Hanging Heights - African Violet

-

Soltech's Recommendation:

  • Not Recommended

-

VIEW GROVE GROW GUIDE

Lighting guide for plants with Soltech Aura and potted plants on a neutral background

Aura Light Distances - African Violet

-

Soltech's Recommendation:

  • 0" to 8"

-

VIEW AURA GROW GUIDE

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